Prince William Unveils Parenting Motto at NFL Foundation Event

Prince William has shared his 'crucial motto' for parenting while visiting the NFL Foundation in London, where he engaged in activities highlighting the organization’s efforts to support young people in disadvantaged areas. The royal, 42, made a playful remark about his family dynamics as he showcased his American football skills during the event on Tuesday.

After successfully throwing an American football through a series of targets, William received a ball to take home for his children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. He remarked, "Oh, that's very kind. Never go home empty-handed. That's a crucial motto of being a parent. They'll love that."

Joking about his newfound skills, William quipped that he would practice at home and see how many windows he could break after impressing professional players with his throws. The event was part of a community outreach program organized by the NFL Foundation UK, which uses NFL Flag—a non-contact version of American football—to engage teens and foster positive change.

Throughout the day, the Prince participated in various throwing drills, demonstrating enthusiasm as he took on the role of quarterback. Louis Rees-Zammit, a former Welsh rugby player who has recently transitioned to NFL, expressed admiration for William’s abilities, stating, "He can throw the ball better than me. He has a good spiral!"

Phoebe Schecter, captain of the GB women’s flag football team, added, "His arm strength is incredible. I couldn’t believe how far he could throw the ball. He did a great job and was very coachable." One of the challenges involved tossing the ball into small openings in a large net. After some initial misses, William cheered when he successfully scored, exclaiming, "One out of two's alright. I'll retire on that. That’s my NFL career."

Encouraged to try again, he humorously lamented missing his next throw and sought tips on getting the ball to spin correctly. He finally succeeded on his fifth attempt, earning cheers from the crowd.

William also attempted to throw the ball to teenagers who dove onto crash mats and participated in distance throws, achieving mixed results. Admitting that he didn't fully grasp NFL tactics, he mused that understanding the game might encourage him to get more involved.

As he received three mini footballs for his children and a full-size one for himself, he jokingly remarked, "I’ll do some practice at home and see how many windows I can smash."

Accompanying him at Kennington Park were Henry Hodgson, general manager of NFL UK, and Will Stone, head of social impact and government strategy. They explained that flag football is gaining traction in the UK, with a growing number of schools participating and plans for the sport to be included in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

The NFL Foundation, marking its three-year anniversary, is the first NFL charitable initiative established outside the U.S. During his visit, William engaged with community partners and learned about how the foundation is empowering young people through sport.

In conversations with teenagers, he inquired about their favorite aspects of the sport and how it compares to rugby and football, reminiscing about playing similar games on the beach as a child. He expressed curiosity about the skills required in NFL, asking if the differences between rugby and football were "like chalk and cheese."

The NFL has been hosting regular-season games in London since 2007, with matches scheduled this month at Tottenham Hotspur and Wembley stadiums. The NFL Foundation UK launched in 2021, partnering with the Mayor of London’s Sport Unites fund and expanding to cities like Greater Manchester, Birmingham, and Leeds with support from the San Francisco 49ers.

This solo outing was notable as William attended without the Princess of Wales, who has been gradually returning to public engagements following preventative chemotherapy treatment. Later, he posed for photographs with Rees-Zammit and Schecter, holding a special NFL shirt emblazoned with "HRH 24," before taking a group photo with participating teens.